September 25, 2008

Annoyed with the Pink Ribbon

Breast Cancer is a very worthy cause, and I fully support the research and funding that goes towards it. However, I'm jealous, I suppose, of the amount of attention that it gets. Sure, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, but why do retailers (I'm looking at you Target and Vons) start pulling out the Pink merchandise in mid-September?

Today at Vons I was asked if I wanted to donate money to Breast Cancer funding. Sure, I have no problem with this except THAT IT'S STILL CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. Not that Vons supported Childhood Cancer funding and research with it's checkout donation program anyway. I know there are a million worthy causes out there, but this one is obviously mine. A few weeks ago I asked my checker how I could contact Vons (corporate) to find out about getting them to add childhood cancer donations to their checkstand donation program. She didn't know, and didn't offer to get a manager. I looked around online and found the right person/department to email. The email ended up being sent back to me with a notice that that email address no longer works. Nice.

If 10% of the funds donated to Breast Cancer were instead donated to Childhood Cancer, it would make a huge difference in helping to find a cure, or in the least, finding better treatment plans for children. I don't wish to take any funding away from Breast Cancer reasearch, I just wish that Childhood Cancer funding and research got a fraction of the amount of attention that Breast Cancer Awareness does.

8 comments:

I so agree! I went online to find Childhood Cancer Awareness shirts (or anything, really) last week and only found pink ribbon things. It's actually very sad that I could'nt find ANYTHING for C.C.A. on E-bay in September either. I am not saying Breast Cancer isn't important, I think Chilhood Cancer Awareness needs as much exposure.

I'm thinking that all of us who are concerned and would like to see more pediatric cancer awareness need to call, email, do what it takes to whatever corporations it takes. It may take awhile, but the squeaky wheel gets the oil. For instance, there is someone in our local paper who write a column about things that concern children and teens. Many times I find her columns trite and uninteresting to say the least. I was thinking of emailing her and saying "Hey, are you even aware that this is childhood cancer month?' How about a story on that (and you can interview me about my granddaughter if you want.)Grandma N

I with you on on sick of pink. I tell everyone I get a chance about childhood cancer and my sons story. I even started a company and am trying to get it into stores so people will remember our children.

You know what ... you are absolutely right. I used to be all about the pink ribbon considering I lost my grandma to breast cancer, but Maddie's story has touched me much more.. I went to search for childhood cancer awareness items and realized, the yellow or gold ribbon which they've designated for childhood cancer is shared by the MIA, POW and the troops in general. Why can't children get their OWN color and be as recognized as the pink ribbon? Children deserve the greatest amount of support, they still have an entire life to live .. they are our future.